Category Archives: Logan

Harry S. Gay for House of Delegates (1928)

20 Saturday Apr 2019

Posted by in Coal, Logan

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Harry Gay, First Republican House Member from Logan LB 11.05.1926 3.JPG

Logan (WV) Banner, 2 March 1928. “Logan County’s popular member of the House of Delegates who is being urged to accept renomination by the Republicans for that post, despite his own inclination to quit politics.” Later on November 5: “To be the first person to ship coal from Logan county has always been quite an honor for Harry S. Gay, Jr., but to be selected, 23 years later, as its first Republican representative in the legislature is a fitting tribute to his popularity. Mr. Gay’s race was not quite so easy, though. He was opposed by a very popular Democrat, and many of the large coal companies fought him bitterly. The fact that he is a coal operator caused some to feel that he could not carry the labor vote, but besides his own mining precinct and all bordering precincts his labor vote totals compared very favorably with Mr. Turley’s.”

Trial of Don Chafin, the “Fighting Sheriff of Logan County” (1924)

05 Friday Apr 2019

Posted by in African American History, Huntington, Logan

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From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes this bit of history about the trial of Sheriff Don Chafin, dated September 26, 1924:

Trial of Don Chafin Set For Monday, October 6

Logan’s Sheriff Will Answer to Charges of Alleged Violation of Volstead Act.

Trial of Don Chafin, fighting sheriff of Logan county and a figure of national prominence, indicted by the grand jury in federal court on two counts, one charging conspiracy to violate the Volstead act and the other engaging unlawfully in the retail liquor business, will come up before Judge George W. McClintic, in United States Court at Huntington Monday October 6.

The same day was fixed by the court for the trial of John T. Gore, a deputy sheriff, and H.S. Walker, who were indicted jointly for alleged conspiracy to secure the arrest and conviction of one Frank Lewis, a negro, on a pistol toting charge because he had been a witness against another negro charged with violating the prohibition law.

Sheriff Don Chafin and Gore were given their release under bond of $5,000 each, but the court declined to admit Walker to bail, and he was remanded to the county jail, and held without bail until Wednesday at which time he was released under [error here in layout] mitted to jail Friday afternoon, after bond of $5,000. The last named was arrested and committed to jail last Friday afternoon, after he was alleged to have administered a severe whipping to William Avis, a witness before the grand jury. The alleged assault was said to have occurred when Avis returned to Logan from Huntington Tuesday.

The court at the same time continued the cases of five other Logan county officials indicted along with Sheriff Chafin, Gore, and Walker to the March term in Huntington [error in layout] in each of these cases the defendant obtained release under $3,000. They were: Emmett Scaggs, now county superintendent of schools in Logan, and the democratic nominee for sheriff, indicted for alleged illicit possession of liquor; Simp Thompson, a deputy sheriff under Chafin, indicted on a charge of alleging that for a $200 consideration he released Walter Wright, in whose possession a still and quantity of moonshine had been found; John Chafin, a relative of the sheriff and a deputy under him, indicted on a charge of having had liquor at the polls at Mallory, Logan county during the conduct of a national election; William Dingess, a deputy sheriff, indicted on a charge of selling liquor; and John Browning, a deputy sheriff, indicted for alleged possession of whisky in the basement of the court house at Logan.

Indicted jointly with Dingess on a charge of selling moonshine was Garfield Maynard. He did not appear for arraignment with the rest of the accused and the court ordered a capias issued for him.

Appearing in court with the famed fighting sheriff of Logan and the rest of the indicted persons were Colonel John S. Marcum and Judge F.C. Leftwich, engaged as defense counsel for the entire group. The formalities were brief and required but a comparatively short time of transaction. After furnishing their bonds the accused, with their bondsmen, who included W.F. Farley and A.S. Christian, left the court chamber in a body, accompanied by their counsel.

The indictments against the Logan officials were returned by the federal grand jury Friday morning, coming as the outgrowth of an exhaustive investigation of affairs in Logan county which  the government, it was said, has been conducting here for the past six months or more. According to reports, as many as 20 agents of the department of justice were at work in Logan at one time.

Tennis Hatfield, Republican nominee for the office of sheriff of Logan county, who served a jail term of eleven months and paid a fine of $1,000 for violating the prohibition law, was understood to have been the principal witness against Sheriff Don Chafin before the grand jury.

According to statements emanating from the office of United States District Attorney Elliott Northcott, Hatfield offered testimony to the effect that Chafin was his partner in the ownership and promotion of the notorious speakeasy once conducted at Barnabus in Logan county. This establishment, known as the Blue Goose, flourished from 1914 to late in 1922, when federal men closed up the place.

Source: Logan (WV) Banner, 26 September 1924

Peggy Price of Williamson, WV (1937)

31 Sunday Mar 2019

Posted by in Logan, Music, Williamson, Women's History

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Peggy Price of Williamson LB 06.02.1937 2.JPG

Miss Peggy Price, Williamson dance pupil of Helen Cox Schrader, who appears in The Passing Show of 1937. The first night audience of the recital at the Logan high school auditorium Tuesday found Miss Price’s ballet number Liebestraum most pleasing. Logan (WV) Banner, 2 June 1937

Whirlwind News 01.12.1923

20 Wednesday Mar 2019

Posted by in Big Harts Creek, Logan, Whirlwind

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A correspondent named “Blue Belle” from Whirlwind on Harts Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on January 12, 1923:

The roads are rocky but they won’t be rocky long.

Troy Vance has returned from Ohio. He reported a nice time.

The Revenue Officers sure are raiding Harts Creek.

C.H. McCloud said that he was going to run a baggage truck from Logan to Harts Creek. $2.50 will be the charge.

I saw Charlie Mullins going to Trace Fork Sunday. He said goodbye to the Buck Fork girls.

Wonder who it was that was visiting the widow last Saturday night?

Mr. Randy Baisden has forsaken the Whirlwind girls and has gone to Cherry Tree.

John Jackson and Weltha Mullins and Amanda Mullins were seen going through Mullins town some time ago. The girls sure were hanging to Johnnie.

James Baisden and S.W. Dalton have just returned from Bluefield and both reported a good time.

Harts Creek News 01.19.1923

20 Wednesday Mar 2019

Posted by in Big Harts Creek, Logan, Spottswood, Whirlwind

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A correspondent named “Baby Doll” from Harts Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on January 19, 1923:

As we have begun writing, I suppose we had better not stop, so here goes.

Miss Ora Mullins is very ill at this writing.

Mrs. Baisden is also on sick list this week.

Singing school is still progressing nicely.

Harts has such a terrible rep. I’m sure some would reverse their opinion if they would just visit our singing school.

In my opinion, Harts Creek is as good or maybe better, than any place I know. Come on Harts Creeker, and help me cheer Harts.

Strawberry shortcake
Huckleberry pie,
V-I-C-T-O-R-Y,
Are we “It”?
I say yes.
–Citizens of Harts Creek school

Howard Adams, Eula Adams, Anna Adams, and Nora Adams all have gone back to Logan to attend school.

Mrs. Shirley Mullins is conducting a good school on Buck Fork. We really appreciate her work and wish to thank her.

How many know that there is to be a wedding in this hamlet soon? You don’t know? Well, how do you like the way you found out?

Miss Weltha Mullins has been visiting her parents of this place.

Some of the people in Logan seem to think that the people on Harts Creek never saw a car. Pahaw, fella. They make ‘em climb trees in our burg.

Logan in 1893 (1937)

09 Saturday Mar 2019

Posted by in Logan

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From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes this bit of history about Logan (then known as Aracoma) dated July 17, 1937:

Logan’s First Mayor Had Comparatively Few Worries

City “Clean-ups” Were Practically Unknown When J.B. Buskirk Served As Logan’s First Executive Back In 1893

Unlike the present-day affairs in the city of Logan with gambling, bootlegging, and all forms of vice causing the mayor, the police force, and the city council no little concern, the early residents of the city and their administrative bodies had little trouble in making and enforcing the laws.

Ordinances that would almost escape notice today, were they brought before the city legislative group, assumed the importance of grave administrative matters.

City “cleanups” were practically unknown, unless one could consider the annual spring drives against muddy thoroughfares and broken hitching posts as “clean ups.”

City legislators concerned themselves not at all with approving beer license ordinances, public health ordinances, and street marking programs. As to beer, the corner saloon was always handy and was somewhat a refuge from the law.

There was no such thing as “public” health, except in cases of epidemics when each citizen would pitch in and get everything as “clean as a hound’s tooth.”

Street marking in the early days could be construed only as the placing of a line of large rocks at regular intervals across strategic spots on the city’s one thoroughfare to enable pedestrians to cross from one side of the street to the other during the rainy season.

J.B. Buskirk, the first mayor of which there is record, elected with a city council to work with him, lived a life of ease compared with the administration of a present-day mayor.

Buskirk held sway in 1893 and, except for numerous resignations of public officials being continually tendered him, he had little cause to worry. Evidently the city fathers pined away in their chairs from boredom.

Record is made of the long-remembered council meeting of June 27, 1893, when Buskirk, with his council composed of Leander Cary, G.W. Morgan, John A. Sheppard, T.C. Whited, and S.B. Robertson met and passed the following ordinance:

“Be it ordained by the common council of the town of Aracoma: That any person found guilty of pitching horse shoes, rings or anything of like manner, or playing quoits, ball, marbles, or any similar game or games upon the streets or alleys of the town of Aracoma, shall be fined not less than one dollar nor more than five dollars at the discretion of the Mayor.”

The council did not indicate whether or not they considered these practices gambling.

Those were the days—from a mayor’s point of view.

NOTE: Aracoma was Logan’s official name in 1893.

Ferrellsburg News 04.06.1923

09 Saturday Mar 2019

Posted by in Chapmanville, Ferrellsburg, Huntington, Logan

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A correspondent named “Blue Eyes” from Ferrellsburg in Lincoln County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on April 6, 1923:

The hard road is being rapidly worked on here at this place. We hope Logan County will keep her part of this road worked to make a speedy finish.

Mr. J.W. Stowers is still at home; he doesn’t go out much. Sometimes he fox hunts with his hounds.

Hugh Farris, a merchant from Piney, is here looking after business interests.

Mr. John Lucas made a rushing trip to Chapmanville Tuesday.

Mr. Bartley returned from a home visit in Huntington Monday.

Miss Martha Fowler made a trip to Logan Monday looking after business matters.

Mrs. Belle Dingess is visiting her sister Miss Martha Fowler this week.

Rev. Charles Curry and other Baptist ministers preached at Ferrellsburg school house Easter Sunday.

A Holiness revival will begin here this week by Brother Wellman and wife. We are certainly proud to announce the meeting because the people in this section have got their eyes on this highway of holiness. We are expecting a large crowd and a good meeting.

Mrs. Cora Adkins has been very ill for the past few weeks, but is improving now.

Mrs. Stella Mullins is visiting her sister in Ferrellsburg, Mrs. M. Tomblin.

Mr. John Pitts was on his way to work Saturday night when he fell and shot himself and now is in the Logan hospital.

The beauty of this place left here yesterday—Miss Cora Kelly.

Mr. W.E. Fowler, a merchant of Ferrellsburg, has gone to saw milling.

Mrs. Martha Mullins isn’t very well pleased with this noisy place.

Miss Gracy Horns returned to Ferrellsburg yesterday after visiting her sister at Wilburn, W.Va.

Mr. W.C. Brumfield was calling on Miss Lula Tomblin Saturday and Sunday.

The girls in Ferrellsburg are very sad at this writing on account of bad weather and bad roads, and are hoping the hard roads will be completed in a short time so they can begin joy riding.

Mr. Homer Tomblin and friend John Dan are taking a vacation this week. They will begin work Monday.

Huntington Safe Robbed by James Gang Taken to Henlawson, WV (1937)

27 Wednesday Feb 2019

Posted by in Coal, Huntington, Logan

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From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes this bit of history about the James Gang’s robbery of a Huntington bank…and the fate of a safe:

Historic Safe In Offices Merrill Mines, Henlawson

Bank Safe Robbed by Jesse James’ Gang at Huntington in 1875 Now in Fire-proof Vault at Henlawson

Used As Storage For Old Files

The Merrill Mines at Henlawson have a safe in their payroll office which has a unique history.

The safe is being used by the company as a storage place for old records and is in a fire-proof vault.

But it was not always thus.

According to Bob Greever, payroll clerk, who became interested in the history of the safe and clipped a news story from a Huntington newspaper to support his story, the depository was once in the old Bank of Huntington on Third avenue and Twelfth street and was robbed by members of Jesse James gang, who made their getaway with $14,500 on Twelfth street to Fourth avenue, thence to Tenth street and out Tenth street to the hills, closely pursued by a hastily formed posse.

Old-timers in Logan still remember the posse which followed the gang to Logan and lost its trail at the forks of Island Creek long enough for the gang to make their escape to Tennessee.

Reports came back to Logan that the posse overtook the band in Tennessee, killed one of the gang, Bud McDaniel, and arrested another by the name of Webb or Keen. The man the police arrested was brought back to West Virginia and was sentenced to the penitentiary for 20 years. Most of the money was recovered.

An excerpt from the news article describing the bank robbery reads:

“On Monday, September 6, 1875, between the hours of 1 and 2 o’clock a group of men later discovered to have been members of the dreaded James gang, descended on the Bank of Huntington and, at the point of a pistol, forced Robert T. Oney, cashier, to open the bank’s safe in order that they might rifle the contents.

“They complimented the cashier on his courage and insisted on restoring to him an amount of money shown to be his by a credit slip on the counter.

“Reaching the outside of the bank the four men sprung into their saddles, brandished their pistols in the air and galloped away, yelling like Comanche.”

“It was definitely learned that Jesse James was not among them, but there was uncertainty as to whether or not Frank James was in the party. Colder Young was present and may have been leader of the detachment.”

C.W. Jones, general manager of the Merrill Mines, said that the old safe, which weighs every bit of two tons, was first owned by Henry Lawson, lumber operator at Henlawson.

Lawson brought the safe from Huntington by pushboat and put it in his lumber offices on the site of the Merrill Mine offices.

When the Merrill Mines opened their workings, the safe was left near its original site and a fireproof vault was built around it.

The safe is showing the ravages of nearly a century of service. The combination is broken, it squeaks on its hinges, and some of the cement which is encased between steel plates on the safe doors is beginning to crack.

However, the safe is in its final resting place, the door of the vault is too small to get the safe through.

Logan (WV) Banner, 13 May 1937

John Breckinridge Once Owned Logan, WV (1937)

23 Saturday Feb 2019

Posted by in American Revolutionary War, Logan, Native American History

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From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes this bit of information about Logan’s early history printed on April 26, 1937:

Land On Which City Of Logan Now Stands First Owned by Breckinridge

The tract of land on which the city of Logan now stands and the Island–now “Hatfield’s Island”–once belonged to John Breckinridge, scion of an old Kentucky family and leader of the attacking party which broke the control of the Shawnee Indians in the Guyandotte valleys in the “Battle of the Islands.”

Princess Aracoma was killed in this battle and Boling Baker, her renegade white husband, was banished forever from the lush river valley where he had spent his days since his desertion from the English forces in Virginia.

Captain Breckenridge led the attack which made the valley safe for white settlers, and, in appreciation of his services, the new government allowed him 300 acres at the mouth of Island creek.

The land grant was made early in the 1780s along with a few others on Island Creek, Dingess Run, Gilbert Creek, Big Creek and the Spruce Fork of Cole River.

Surveying parties from Montgomery and Washington county, Virginia, braved the wilderness and apportioned the land in Guyan Valley and vicinity to early Indian fighters who had contributed their services to opening the valley for white settlement.

Included in the surveys made by deputy surveyors from Montgomery county were grants apportioning much of Island Creek, Spruce Fork, and Dingess Run to persons whose names are still remembered in the county has holders of much of this county’s land.

In these early surveys Andrew Lewis was given 3000 acres on Island Creek along with 2000 acres on Big Creek, and 3000 acres on Gilbert Creek.

Thomas Madison was given 2000 acres on Spruce Fork, 1000 acres on Dingess Run, and 2000 acres on Gilbert Creek.

Others who figured in this early allocation of land were Elizabeth Madison, who was given much of Spruce Fork; George Booth, who was awarded several thousand acres along Guyan River and on Island Creek; and George Booth [same name listed twice in this story], who received much of the land along Island Creek.

Later in the waning years of the 19th century other grants were made by the new government with the stipulation that settlement be made immediately, but these early grants were rewards for work well done in opening the valley of the Guyandotte for settlement.